The National Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) was founded in Cleveland, Ohio in November of 1874. It grew out of the "Woman's Crusade" of the winter of 1873-1874. Initial groups in Fredonia, New York and Hillsboro and Washington Court House, Ohio, after listening to a lecture by Dr. Dio Lewis, were moved to a non-violent protest against the dangers of alcohol. Normally quiet housewives dropped to their knees in pray-ins in local saloons and demanded that the sale of liquor be stopped. In three months the women had driven liquor out of 250 communities, and for the first time felt what could be accomplished by standing together.

In the summer of 1874 at Chautauqua, preorganizational discussion was held by the women. They decided to hold a national convention that fall in Cleveland and the WCTU was formed. Mrs. Annie Wittenmyer was elected president; Miss Frances E. Willard, corresponding secretrary; Mrs. Mary Johnson, recording secretary; and Mrs. Mary Ingham, treasurer.

Mrs. Annie Turner Wittenmyer First National President (1874-1879)

Behind the WCTU's temperance reform was "protection

of the home." The slogan "For God and Home and Native

Land" (later changed to "Every Land") expressed the

WCTU's priorities. Through education and example

the WCTU hoped to obtain pledges of total abstinence

from alcohol, and later also tobacco and other drugs.

The white ribbon bow was selected to symbolize purity, and

the WCTU's watchwords were "Agitate - Educate - Legislate."

Local chapters were called "Unions" and were largely autonomous, but closely linked to the state unions and national headquarters. There were clear channels of authority and communication and the WCTU quickly became the largest woman's organization in the United States (and later, in the world.)

The crusade against alcohol was a protest by women, in part, of their lack of civil rights. Women could not vote. In most states women could not have control of their property or custody of their children in case of divorce. There were no legal protections for women and children, prosecutions for rape were rare, and the state-regulated "age of consent" was as low as seven.

Most local political meetings were held in saloons from which women were excluded. At the end of the 19th century Americans spent over a billion dollars on alcoholic beverages each year, compared with $900 million on meat, and less than $200 million on public education.

In 1879, Frances Willard became president of the WCTU and turned to organizing political means in addition to moral persuasion to achieve total abstinence. Willard's personal motto was "do everything." The WCTU adopted this as a policy which came to mean that all reform was inter-connected and that social problems could not be separated. The use of alcohol and other drugs was a symptom of the larger problems in society. By 1894, under "home protection" the WCTU was endorsing women's suffrage. By 1896, 25 of the 39 departments of the WCTU were dealing with non-temperance issues. However, temperance, especially in terms of alcohol., tobacco, and other drugs, was the force that bound the WCTU's social reforms together. To promote its causes, the WCTU was among the first organizations to keep a professional lobbyist in Washington, D. C.

Today the WCTU is the oldest voluntary, non-sectarian woman's organization in continuous existence in the world. The WCTU is a founding member (1888) of the National Council for Women (Frances Willard was its first president) and the International Council of Women in 1893. It is also a charter member (1945) of the United Nations Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO). For almost 125 years the WCTU has trained women to think on their feet, speak in public, and run an organization.

The WCTU has proposed, supported, and helped establish:

protection of women and children at home and work

women's right to vote

shelters for abused women and children

the eight-hour work day

equal pay for equal work

founding of kindergartens

assistance in founding of the PTA

federal aid for education

stiffer penalties for sexual crimes against girls and women

uniform marriage and divorce laws

dress reform

travelers' aid

prison reform and police matrons

women police officers

homes and education for wayward girls

promotion of nutrition

pure food and drug act

legal aid

labor's right to organize

passive demonstrations and world peace

The WCTU has opposed and worked against:

the drug traffic

the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs

white slavery

child labor

army brothels

For over 100 years the WCTU has been conducting training seminars for teachers and others interested in alcohol, tobacco, and drug education. Today the WCTU is still concerned that the wide availability of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs combines with other social problems to the detriment of society.